Roman Polanski – Consequences for a Crime
A Victim Wants to Forget, but Victim Advocates Want to Remember
Sep 29, 2009
Samantha Geimer was a 13-year-old in 1977 when she went to a photo shoot with Roman Polanski. She alleged that during the photo shoot Roman Polanski drugged and raped her, and the famous director was subsequently arrested. He pled guity to having unlawful sexual intercourse, but fled the United States before he was sentenced. However, he has achieved fame since the crime, and his now 45-year-old victim Samantha Geimer has asked that Polanski be pardoned for his crime.
The Different Attitudes
The resistance to the pardon of Polanskis’s offense is represented in an essay written by D.A. Clarke that addresses crimes against women. Clarke contends that there are only “several strategies for preventing crimes.” The strategies include instilling individuals with a sense of moral, ethics, and values during childhood, teaching awareness on the part of the victims, teaching defensive measures against attacks, and as the last resort, “the establishment of consequences for the perpetrator.” (Buchwald et. al., 2005, page 317).
Clarke complains that, “Every time a man molests his daughter and still keeps his place in the family and community – every time a man sexually harasses a female employee and still keeps his job or his business reputation – every time a rapist or femicide gets a token sentence – there is a terrible lack of consequence for the commission of a crime." (p. 317).
The Victim, Victim Advocates, and Consequences
In regard to criminal offenses against females, Clarke insists, “most of the men who are doing these things are suffering no consequences at all, or very slight consequences. The slighter the consequence of their offense, the more it seems to them (and to everyone) that there is really nothing so very wrong with what they have done.” (page 318).
Clarke verbalizes the victim advocate’s resistance to Samantha Geimer’s insistence that Roman Polanski has “suffered enough” and should avoid further punishment. What are the consequences and where are the deterrents wonder such advocates?
Roman Polanski – Fate Not Decided
On the other side of the argument, Bruce Crumley writer for Time Magazine explores some of the vehement opposition to Polanski’s arrest, explaining, “many people in France have over the years downplayed the gravity of Polanski's crime because of his immense talent and artistry as a director.” (2009). Crumley explains that a cultural divide exists, and some have a difficult time understanding why United States authorities have pursued Polanski for three decades.
Crumley sums up the perceived divide by quoting writer Ted Strange who observes, “To the French mind, this has made Polanski a combination of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Dreyfus – the victim of systematic persecution…To the American mind, he's proof that no one is above the law..." But of course all of the French are not of one mind, and some thoroughly condemn Polanski.
Opinions differ from country to country and from person to person. Polanski is currently imprisoned and diplomats, politicians, legal analysts, and the international public argue amongst themselves and ponder his ultimate fate. Many are determined that punishment be attached to the decades-old crime, while others like Samantha Geimer want to leave the past behind.
References
Roman Polanski biography. (2009). Biography.com
Buchwald, E., Fletcher, P., Roth, M. (ed.). (2005). Transforming a rape culture. Milkweed. Minneapolis, Minn.
Crumely, B. (2009). Polanski’s arrest: why the French are outraged.
Deutsch, L. (2009). Roman Polanski Victim Urges Case Dismissal. Huffington Post.
Fitzpatrick, L. (2009). Fugitive Filmmaker Roman Polanski. Two Minute Biography. Time Magazine.
CNN transcripts. (2003). Interview with Samantha Geimer. CNN.com
Kennedy, H. (2009). Roman Polanski's victim Samantha Geimer, now 45, 'got over it long ago.' NY Daily News.com
Polanski’s victim speaks about rape. (January 30, 2003). Good Morning America Interview. ABC News.go.com
 |
